Molded pulp article



F. KRONENBERGER 1,956,955

MOLDED PULP ARTICLE Filed Aug. 18, 1932 5 SheetsSheet 1 May 1,1934.

INvENToR w MWE Frdinand Ifi-o nenbewyez' By D I 4x M w.

May 1, 1934. F. KR ONENBERGER 1,956,955

MOLDED PULP ARTICLE Filed Aug. 18, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I NV E NTO R Eerdinand lfi-ohenfiemer.

y 1934- F. KRONENBERGER 1,956,955

MOLDED PULP ART ICLE 5 Sheeis-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 18, 1932 1 4 1 94 INVENTOH.

I'Erdina'nd Kronenbezqer.

May 1, 1934. F. KRONENBERGER 1,956,955

MOLDED PULP ARTICLE Filed Aug. 18, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 "MM 'M a I.

INVENTOR.

I'Tzrdinand Ifi'onenbetqer:

M y 1934. F. KRONENBERGER 1,956,955

MOLDED PULP ARTICLE Filed Aug. 18, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ENVENTOR.

F erdinand liiwmembamer Patented May 1, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 10 Claims.

This invention relates to protective devices for packing and shipping such frangible articles as eggs, bulbs, tubes and similar ovate articles which frequently vary in size both as to length and diameter.

For the purposes of this application I shall discuss my invention in its' relation to the packaging of eggs, although it will be understood that this discussion is purely illustrative and in no way limiting.

Considering the shipment or storage of eggs it is customary to pack these in cases or crates each containing 30 dozen eggs. The case is divided into two parts each containing 15 dozen, these being placed in five tiers or layers, three dozen in each layer.

With this method of packing each layer is symmetrical with respect to every other layer, there being in each half case 36 vertical rows of eggs one over the other with five eggs in each row.

It has been customary to support each layer by means of a sheet commercially known as an egg fiat and to separate the 36 eggs in each layer by strips of paper or board commercially known as egg case fillers.

With this method of packing the length of egg largely determines the height of the case. There are five eggs located one directly over the other in each vertical row and to this length must be added the thickness of the packing sheets between each layer and at the bottom and top of the case. Egg cases are ordinarily of a size to pack average size eggs and where extra long eggs are packed there is not adequate vertical space provided and breakage or other damage consequently results.

I have devised a combination fiat and filler which takes the place of both the commercial fiat and the commercial filler and which enables me to pack the same number of eggs in the same size of case as heretofore with the usual type of flat and filler.

In order to provide adequate space for each egg particularly as to endwise length, I provide a pocket space between each pair of combination flat and fillers which is considerably longer than the longest egg which is to be packed. I secure space for these pockets by removing one entire row of eggs as they are ordinarily packed and provide for five rows in one direction and six in the other, instead of six in each direction, as heretofore. In order, however, to pack the same number of eggs in the same size case as at present packed, I add an extra layer or tier of eggs, without however requiring additional space or height of the crate.

My concept consists in providing a sheet of pulp or other material with a series of hollow conical projections both above and below the normal plane of this sheet, those hollow conical projections which extend above the plane of the sheet forming half pocket spaces on the under side of the sheet and those which extend belowthe sheet forming half pocket spaces on the upper side of the sheet.

The conical hollow projections which extend upwardly from the sheet are located diagonally in between the hollow conical projections which extend below the sheet. Due to this diagonal arrangement, the pockets in successive layers or tiers overlap each other vertically.

When assembled in a standard egg case and filled with eggs, the vertical rows of eggs are therefore staggered with reference to each other so that there are less than five eggs in any vertical row one directly over the other. In my prefered form there are only three eggs in each vertical row. This enables me to provide a packing space for each egg longer than is ordinarily possible, thus eliminating any danger of breakage or other damage due to lack of endwise space.

The exterior surfaces of both the projections which extend above and those which extend below the sheet form in groups of four a four-sided pocket with yieldable walls to allow for expansion when eggs of the larger diameters are placed in these pockets. The bottom of each hollow conical projection is spaced upwardly and downwardly from the normal plane of the sheet a distance greater than half the length of any egg so that the eggs or other objects placed in my combination flat and filler at no-time have endwise contact with the top or bottoms of the hollow projections or pockets, and thus are prevented from breakage.

It will be readily seen that where ovate objects similar to eggs are packed in layers, even though the eggs may be placed relatively close together at the center of their large diameter, there is much space wasted between the rows of eggs near their ends. My invention utilizes this normally waste packing space to afford a pocket space longer than the longest egg and also one which has flexible side walls so that it readily accommodates itself to eggs of abnormal size.

It is necessary from the commercial utility standpoint to have only one style fiat or filler and accordingly with my combination flat and filler, I avoid the necessity for having two styles or shapes to secure this desirable diagonal or staggered packing by so arranging the hollow conical projections of my combination fiat and filler that when a combination flat and filler is turned revolution relative to those above and below the same, the pocket spaces register with each other and on the opposite sides of the sheets pockets are formed which are located diagonally in relation to each other.

In order to identify my combination fiat and filler as to the position each successive article is to occupy, I provide notches or finger holes in two opposite sides as hereinafter illustrated and in packing a case each alternate sheet has these notches or finger holes alternately on the side and end of the case.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown several articles illustrative of the principles of my invention. In such drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical transverse section on lines AB of Fig. 11 through a vertically packed case of eggs illustrating by the shaded areas S the spaces ordinarily wasted by such method of packing.

Fig. 2 is a transverse diagram, normal to the side of the egg case, showing how I utilize the spaces wasted at S in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section through a case of the same relative size as that of Fig. 1 further emphasizing this saving of waste space in my method of packing.

Fig. 4 is a vertical diagonal section on lines CD of Fig. 11 through a vertically packed case of eggs as in Fig. 1, and again showing the space wasted by the vertical method of packing.

Fig. 5 is a diagonal section through a case of the same relative size as that of Fig. 1 again emphasizing this saving of waste space in my method of packing.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section on the line 6--6, of Fi 10.

Fig. 7 is a similar section on the line 7-7, of Fig. 13, emphasizing the difference between the open-sided pack of Fig. 10 and the enclosing flange type of pack shown in Fig. 13.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a standard egg packing case equipped with packing units constructed and assembled in the manner contemplated by my invention, a wall of the packing case being broken away to expose the interior assembly.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective illustrating the relation between a pair of superimposed packing sheets assembled in the manner contemplated by my invention, the upper sheet having been turned through a quarter revolution relative to the lower sheet.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of one of the packing sheets shown in Fig. 8 removed and as seen from above.

Fig. 11 is a plan showing the relative locationof four adjacent pocket positions transversely on lines A-B and diagonally on lines CD.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary perspective showing a pair of sheets assembled as in Fig. 9, some of the eggs being indicated in position.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view showing the under face of a modified form of packing sheet.

Fig. 14 is a similar view showing the upper face of the sheet illustrated in Fig. 13.

I have indicated at 1 (Fig. 8) an egg case or crate of standard construction which is centrally divided by the vertical partition 2 to form two similar compartments each adapted to contain fifteen dozen eggs, the eggs E being arranged in horizontal layers or tiers, each layer preferably containing thirty eggs.

Instead of using five packing sheets and having five eggs located one directly over the other in each vertical row as shown in Figs. 1 and. 4 with waste spaces S between the rows as heretofore in the art, I employ seven packing sheets and I turn every other sheet through a quarter of a revolution relative to the sheet next below (see Fig. 9) to effect a staggered arrangement so that there are only three eggs directly over each other in every vertical row, (see Fig. 5). The

same number of eggs is packed, however, in either instance.

By turning alternate packing sheets through a quarter revolution when assembling them, I am able to use sheets which are duplicates of each other instead of being compelled to use two differently formed sheets in each layer as would otherwise be the case. An additional advantage is that the packing sheets, being duplicates of each other, are also readily nestable for purposes of storage and shipment.

The packing sheets are made of any suitable material, such as molded pulp. Extending upwardly from each sheet is a series of substantially conical hollow pocket-forming members 3 which are symmetrically dispersed over the upper face of the sheet. Extending downwardly from said sheet is a symmetrical series of similar conical hollow pocket-forming members 4 which occupy the spaces separating the member 3 from each other and which spaces correspond to the waste spaces S of Figs. 1 and 4.

Each packing sheet provides for thirty half pocket spaces on its lower surface and thirty half pocket spaces on its upper surface, these latter being disposed in staggered relation with those on the lower surface. When one sheet is placed above another thirty complete pockets are formed between these sheets and when a third sheet is placed on top of the second an additional thirty 105 complete pockets are formed. Thus, as each combination flat and filler is added to the assembly, thirty additional pocket spaces are provided, the upper half being in such sheet and the lower half being in the sheet below.

To eifect proper registration of successive'layers of pockets and to utilize duplicate sheets for each successive layer, each' alternate sheet is turned 90 relative to the sheet above or below.

With this arrangement of theupocket form- 115 ing spaces in the upper and lowersides of each sheet, the waste spaces S normally present between the diagonal rows of eggs in an ordinary case thus become available for utilization as pocket spaces in each alternate layer or tier.

Thus when one sheet is turned through a quarter revolution and placed on top of an underlying sheet, its downwardly extending mem-. bers 4 are in end-to-end abutment with the upwardly extending members 3 of said underlying 125 sheet, and the hollow upwardly extending members 3 of said upper sheet register with the hollow downwardly extending members 4 of said underlying sheet and define therewith pocket spaces.

Such mutual abutment of the hollow upward formations 3 in a lower sheet with the downward formations 4 in the sheet next above provides alining pockets 5 for the reception of what may be termed the layers E E and E of eggs, as distinguished from the staggered or diagonal layers E E and E packed in the pocket spaces 6.

The eggs in pockets 5 are staggered with reference to those in the pockets 6 so that with the combination fiat and filler assembly shown, there are not more than three eggs in any vertical row directly over one another. This enables me to successfully pack unusually long eggs, since the length of the complete egg pocket is greater than 145 the length of the longest egg which will be packed in it.

Each packing sheet has six rows of cones 4 or 3 in one direction and five rows of cones in the other direction, aifording six rows of packing spaces one 150 way of the sheet and five the other way of the sheet or thirty packing spaces in all.

The marginal rows of cones 3 at two opposite edges of the sheet are half cones, that is they are slabbed off vertically as indicated at 31. The marginal rows of cones 4 at the other two edges of the sheet are likewise similarly slabbed off, as indicated at 41. The half cones 41 and 31 form the outside walls of pocket spaces near the edges of the sheet.

The closed ends of the respective sets of cones 3 and 4 are formed for automatic interlocking engagement with the cones of the sheets next above and below. This may be variously accomplished, one convenient method being to form the ends of one set of cones, as the cones 3, as convexities 32 and the ends of the cones 4 as concavities 42. When the sheets are turned through one quarter of a revolution and placed one on top of the other, the-convexities 32 of the cones 3 of one sheet are centered within and interlocked by the concavities 42 of the cones 4 of the sheet next above. This prevents relative sliding movement of a pair of superposed sheets and consequent danger of breaking the included layer of eggs packed therebetween.

Considering the assembly of Fig. 5 from top to bottom of the egg case, it will be noted that:

The cones 3 of sheet A define with the cones 4 of sheet B with which they have been registered a series of pockets 5 for the reception of the top layer of eggs E The cones 4 of sheet A abut against the cones 3 of sheet B intermediate of the pockets 5 formed by the registration of the cones 3 of sheet A with the cones 4 of sheet B and space sheets A and B apart.

The second layer of eggs E is retained between sheets B and C, the upper ends of said eggs being received in the cones 3 of sheet B and the lower ends of such eggs being received in the registering cones 4 of sheet C. The egg layer E is thus supported in the pockets 6 out of the vertical line of the top layer E the sheets B and C being spaced apart by the abutment of cones 4 of sheet B with cones 3 of sheet C.

The third egg layer E is retained between sheets C and D, the upper ends of the eggs in this layer being received within the cones 3 of sheet C and their lower ends in the registering cones 4 of sheet D. the sheets 0 and D being spaced apart by the abutment of cones 4 of sheets 0 with cones 3 of sheet D.

Layer E is therefore retained in the pockets 5 out of line with layer E but in line with layer E The fourth egg layer E is retained between sheets D and E, the upper ends of the eggs in this layer being received in the cones 3 of sheet D and their lower ends in the registering cones 4 of sheet E. The sheets D and E are spaced apart by the end to end abutment of the cones 4 of sheet D with the cones 3 of sheet E.

Layer E is therefore retained in the pockets 6 in line with layer E but staggered with reference to layers E and E The fifth egg layer E is disposed between sheets E and F. The upper ends of the eggs in this layer are received in the cones 3 of sheet E and their lower ends in the registering cones 4 of sheet F. Cones 4 of sheet E abut cones 3 of sheet F.and space sheets E and F apart.

Layer E is therefore retained in the pockets 5 in alinement with but spaced from layers E and E and is staggered with reference to layers E and E The sixth layer E is disposed between sheets F and G. The upper ends of the eggs in this layer are received in the cones 3 of sheet F and their lower ends are received in the registering cones 4 of sheet G and space sheets F and G apart.

Layer E is therefore retained in the pockets 6 in alinement with layers E and E but staggered with reference to layers E E and E By reference to Fig. 5, it will be observed that the ends of the eggs do not completely fill the pocket spaces 5 or 6. Instead the eggs are supported by the side walls of the pockets a definite distance away from the ends of the spaces.

This permits eggs of longer axis to be safely packed in these spaces. Where eggs of large diameter are packed in spaces 6 the walls of the pockets can yield laterally to accommodate such larger eggs. Similarly, the walls of pockets 5 can yield laterally to accommodate large sized eggs placed in said pockets.

Thus eggs of longer length or larger diameter can be securely packed in either the pocket spaces 5 or 6. In either instance, an oversize egg simply expands the walls of the pocket-forming members 3 or 4 outwardly at four points without, however. reducing the available packing spaces of the adjacent eggs, since the ends of the eggs do not completely fill such spaces and hence there is ample opportunity for expansion of one pocket space without undue encroachment upon adjacent packing spaces for other eggs.

It will also be noted that considering the space between any four upstanding cones 3 as a pocket space 5 for the reception of one end of an egg, as for example, one of the eggs E in Fig. 12, that such egg is supported on the cones 3 entirely above the plane of the sheet.

This is also true of any egg as the egg E which is inserted into any of the pockets 6 formed by the registering cones 3 of sheet D and cones 4 of sheet E.

With the form of packing sheet shown in Figs. 10 and 12 a space is left at the edges of the sheet, as indicated at 9 in Fig. 6, affording complete ventilation of all eggs packed in the case. Where ventilation is not desirable, I provide marginal shields 10 as shown in Figs. '7. 13 and 14, which take the place of the slabbed posts 31 and 41 of Fig. 9.

When a pair of combination flats and fillers of this type are superimposed upon each other with the top sheet rotated through a quarter revolution relative to the lower sheet, the shields or flanges 10 of the pair of sheets close the space 9 of Fig. 6 at all four sides of the assembly as indicated in Fig. 7 thus enclosing each layer of eggs in practically an air tight compartment.

Preferably the rims at two opposite edges of 1 the sheets in both Figs. 10 and 11 and 13 and 14 are provided with spaced finger recesses 11 by means of which the filled sheets may be grasped and lifted from the case. These recesses 11 also serve as indicators and show the packer at a glance which way to turn alternate sheets in order to obtain proper registration of pocket spaces in successive sheets.

Where necessary or desirable and particularly where the flanges 10 are not used. I may protect the contents of the case from moisture or sudden changes in temperature by lining the case with a liner of some inexpensive material as paper or felt. This liner is indicated at 12 (Fig. 8) and may be waterproofed on one or both faces either by the use of a waterproof sheet of cellophane or the like or by coating one or both faces with some waterproofing material. The liner con-- forms generally to the outline of the case and as here shown may consist of a simple blank of sheet material which is adapted to be folded along predetermined lines or creases to provide a bottom, side walls and a cover.

The liner is not a preformed liner in the sense that it is glued or secured together as a definite receptacle preparatory to use. To the contrary, it is a simple blank of material which may be shipped flat and when ready for use is simply laid into the shipping crate, automatically folding along predetermined lines of fold to fit the case and being held in shape by the combination of the external pressure of case walls and the internal pressure of the case contents.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, it will be evident that the upper sheet A of the top pair of combination flats and fillers and the lower sheet G of the bottom pair of combination fiats and fillers act as cushioning elements at the top and bottom of the shipping case.

When the case is filled and the usual cover thereof applied, the pressure of such cover downwardly causes the larger eggs in the assembly to be moved downwardly, the pocket spaces in which such eggs are packed expanding laterally to permit this downward movement of the eggs. Thus the sides of the cones automatically conform themselves to the shape of these oversize eggs, the eggs themselves being circumferentially gripped near their ends in the pocket spaces afforded by such cones.

It will also be evident that the interlocking formations 42, 32 between adjacent sheets not only look each pair of sheets together against relative horizontal sliding movement but transforms the entire assembly of seven sheets in each half-section of the case into a solid interlocked unit.

This solid interlocked unit prevents the eggs, and particularly the oversized eggs from being crushed sideways if subjected to some extraordinarily heavy breakage shock, as where the case falls off a truck.

Ordinarily, there is a slight space. usually about a quarter or half inch. between the edges of the sheets and the vertical walls of the case. Should one sheet slide relative to an adjacent sheet, the thirty eggs contained between such pair of sheets would be crushed, but where, as here, the entire assembly of sheets are interlocked together as one solid unit, no harm will result if the entire unit should slide within such quarter or half inch space.

In other words, the strength of the interlocked unit is the sum of the strength of the individual sheets plus the resistance to sliding action of the sheets which the eggs themselves offer; that is to say, even in the absence of the interlocking formations 42, 32 the eggs would tend to some extent to resist relative sliding movement of adjacent pairs of sheets. Such resistance, however, would be represented by the resistance of the eggs themselves, and consequently the resistance to sliding movement of the entire assembly of sheets could be no greater than the resistance of the tiers of eggs packed therebetween, whereas with the entire sheet assembly interlocked together as a solid unit, such resistance is the resistance of the individual sheets plus that of the packed eggs.

Various modifications in the construction and use of my device may obviously be resorted to if within the spirit and scope of my invention as defined by the appended claims. at

What I therefore claim and desire to secure by. Letters Patent is:-

1. A combination flat and filler having a plurality of article-containing open spaces on its top arranged in rows which intersect each other at right angles, the spaces being cone-shaped with the base of the cone facing up, said flat having on its bottom similarly arranged rows of open spaces, certain of said spaces extending within that area which is located within four adjacent spaces of the opposite side, certain wall portions at four substantially equally spaced points around each of the aforesaid open spaces being so inclined and so proportioned to each other as to produce wedgelike and supporting action upon the lateral wall of an egg when the same is inserted into such space.

2. A combination flat and filler having a plurality of article-containing open spaces on its top arranged in rows, said spaces being tapered with the major area of the spaces facing up, said fiat having on its bottom similarly arranged rows of open spaces, certain of said spaces extending within that area which is located within a plurality of adjacent spaces of the opposite side, certain wall portions at a plurality of substantially equally. 1 spaced points bounding each of the aforesaid open spaces being so inclined and so proportioned to each other as to produce a wedge-like and supporting action upon the lateral wall of an egg when the same is inserted into such space.

3. An egg packing comprising opposed like units each being a combination fiat and filler having a plurality of article-containing open spaces on its top arranged in rows which intersect each other at right angles, there being five rows of such spaces in one direction of the sheet and six rows of such spaces at right angles thereto, said spaces being tapered with the major area of the spaces facing up, said unit having on its bottom similarly arranged rows of open spaces, the rows of spaces on the bottom alternating with those on the top, certain of said bottom spaces extending within that area which is located within a plurality of adjacent spaces of the top, certain wall portions at a plurality of substantially equally spaced points bounding each of the aforesaid open spaces being so inclined and so proportioned to each other as to produce a wedge-like and supporting action upon the lateral wall of an egg when the same is inserted into such space, one 3 unit being turned 90 relatively to the second unit.

4. An egg packing comprising seven opposed like units, each being a combination cushion flat and filler having egg-containing open spaces on its top arranged in rows there being five rows of such spaces in one direction and six rows of such spaces at right angles thereto, said spaces being tapered with the major areas facing up, said unit-fhaving on its bottom similarly arranged rows of open spaces certain of said bottom spaces extend- '140 ing within areas immediately bounded by a plurality of adjacent spaces of the top, the walls of said spaces being inclined and so proportioned as to produce a wedge-like and supporting action upon the lateral wall of an egg when the same is inserted into such space, the lowermost unit having the walls of the egg-receiving spaces on the top face projected downwardly in spaced relationship substantially below the normal position of eggs received therein, to afford lower cushioning 150 members, and the uppermost unit having the walls of its bottom spaces projected upwardly substantially beyond the normal egg-receiving areas of said spaces, to aiford upper cushioning members.

5. An egg packing for use in a packing case comprising seven like units adapted alternately to be turned ninety degrees and superposed one upon the other to aiford six layers of eggs, each unit being a combination cushion fiat and filler having rows of article-containing open spaces on its top, there being five rows of such spaces in one dimension of the flat and six rows of such spaces at right angles thereto, said spaces being tapered with the major areas thereof facing up, said flat having on its bottom similarly arranged rows of open spaces alternating with those of the top and said top and bottom spaces affording packing for thirty eggs in each layer, certain of said bottom spaces extending within that area which is located within a plurality of adjacent spaces of the top, certain wall portions at a plurality of substantially equally spaced points bounding each of the aforesaid open spaces being so inclined and proportioned to each other as to produce a wedge-like and supporting action upon the lateral wall of an egg when the same is inserted in such space, the walls of the spaces on the bottom of the lowermost unit and the walls of the spaces on the top of the uppermost unit in the packing case cushioning the assembly, respectively, against the bottom and cover of the case, and pressure of the case cover enabling movement of the eggs in the several layers axially downwardly in the respective egg-receiving spaces of the units.

6. An egg packing comprising opposed like units each being a combination flat and filler having a plurality of article-containing open spaces on its top arranged in rows which intersect each other at right angles, there being five rows of such spaces in one direction of the sheet and six rows of such spaces at right angles thereto, said spaces being tapered with the major area of the spaces facing up, said unit having on its bottom similarly arranged rows of open spaces, the rows of spaces on the bottom alternating with those on the top, certain of said bottom spaces extending within that area which is located within a plurality of adjacent spaces of the top, certain wall portions at a plurality of substantially equally spaced points bounding each of the aforesaid open spaces being so inclined and so proportioned to each other as to produce a wedgelike and supporting action upon the lateral wall of an egg when the same is inserted into such space, one unit being turned 90 relatively to the second unit, each unit having on the two opposite margins at the top thereof and on the two opposite margins of the bottom thereof, which are intermediate the first-named margins, respectively upwardly and downwardly extending marginal cushion members, which abut corresponding marginal cushion members on units above and below.

7. An egg packing comprising opposed like units each being a combination flat and filler having a plurality of article-containing open spaces on its top arranged in rows which intersect each other at right angles, there being five rows of such spaces in one direction of the sheet and six rows of such spaces at right angles thereto, said spaces being tapered with the major area of the spaces facing up, said unit having on its bottom similarly arranged rows of open spaces, the

rows of spaces on the bottom alternating with those on the top, certain of said bottom spaces extending within that area which is located within a plurality of adjacent spaces of the top, certain wall portions at a plurality of substantially equally spaced points bounding each of the aforesaid open spaces being so inclined and so proportioned to each other as to produce a wedgelike and supporting action upon the lateral wall of an egg when the same is inserted into such space, one unit being turned ninety degrees relatively to the second unit, each unit having on the two opposite margins on the top thereof and on the two opposite margins of the bottom thereof, which are intermediate the first-named margins, respectively upwardly and downwardly extending marginal cushioning posts, which abut corresponding marginal cushioning posts on units above and below.

8. A combination fiat and filler having a plurality of article-containing open spaces on its top arranged in rows, said spaces being tapered with the major area of the spaces facing up, said flat having on its bottom similarly arranged rows of open spaces, certain of said spaces extending within that area which is located within a plurality of adjacent spaces of the opposite side, certain wall portions at a plurality of substantially equally spaced points bounding each of the aforesaid open spaces being so inclined and so proportioned to each other as to produce a wedge-like and supporting action upon the lateral wall of an egg when the same is inserted into such space, the said combination flat and filler at opposite margins being formed with finger guides.

9. A combination flat and filler constructed in accordance with claim 2 in which the walls of the spaces at their outermost portions co-incidentally with the axes of said spaces are formed with sets of concavities and sets of projections, one set being on the top of the fiat and filler and one set being on the bottom thereof whereby two abutting fiat and filler units are positively restrained against relative sliding movement.

10. An egg packing comprising opposed like units each being a combination flat and filler having a plurality of open spaces on its top arranged in rows, said spaces being tapered with the major areas of the spaces facing up, said unit having on its bottom similarly arranged rows of open spaces, the rows of spaces on the bottom alternating with those on the top, certain of said bottom spaces extending within that area which is located within a plurality of adjacent spaces of the top, the wall portions of said spaces being so inclined and so proportioned to each other as to produce a wedge-like and supporting action upon the lateral wall of an egg when the same is inserted in such space, and the walls of each space being projected substantially beyond the normal egg-receiving area of said space whereby the top spaces of one fiat will lie in 1 register with the bottom spaces of an abutting flat and the walls of said spaces will be adapted to hold eggs therein with their longitudinal axes co-incident and the eggs spaced from each other a distance greater than the lateral distance between the spaces of a row.

FERDINAND KRONENBERGER. 

